Reviews
★★★★
Overall the trip was good. Guides were good-kind and considerate. Batyr and Bye were knowledgeable and communicated well. Transportation was good. Would have liked more travel by train. David-the guide in Tajikistan was very good.
There were a few parts of the trip that could be improved. Travel to Mary in Turkmenistan was long and little to see there. Late night border crossing was difficult. Unreliable driver in Bukhara created problems.
Overall we highly recommend this guide and had a good experience.
★★★★
This was my first time using this platform, and overall, our trip across the three countries went okay—though not entirely smooth. I travelled with my parents, just the three of us, so the trip was quite flexible and manageable. Many thanks to Baykhan (Baytr’s assistant) for managing and assisting us with everything throughout the journey.
That said, from the beginning of our communication, I was under the impression that Baytr would be the main point of contact. Baykhan only informed me a few days before our flights that he would actually be in charge. This came as a surprise and, to be honest, felt somewhat unprofessional. Nevertheless, we decided to go with the flow and enjoy the experience as best we could.
In Kazakhstan, we were rather disappointed with the way our dinners were arranged. I raised the issue with both Baykhan and his local partner, mentioning how poor the food was, but unfortunately, nothing was done to address it or make us feel better about our time there. Additionally, while our guide-driver was nice, there wasn’t anything particularly memorable about the service that I would feel confident recommending to others. As a local guide/driver, it would have been helpful if he had offered suggestions or shared more information about the places we visited, as this would have added genuine value to the experience.
In Kyrgyzstan, things took a more positive turn. On the first day we met our guide-driver, Maxi, we immediately felt more at ease—especially after a rather underwhelming experience in Kazakhstan. Maxi was incredibly kind and attentive; he slowed the car whenever we wanted to stop for photos and helped us order tasty local dishes for dinner. We were genuinely happy with his service. However, there was one issue with the itinerary. One day, we were scheduled to go horse riding, but when we arrived at the destination, there were no horses to be found. It was clearly a case of poor coordination by the tour operator. Fortunately, Maxi took the initiative—he spent time speaking with locals in the village and managed to arrange a horse-riding experience for us up to the waterfall. Thanks to his effort, we were still able to enjoy that part of the day.
In Uzbekistan, Baykhan personally picked us up at the airport. Although he is quite young, he was very attentive and knowledgeable, which we really appreciated. We were also very happy with all three of the local guides in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara. Each one brought something unique to the experience, and we would like to thank you for selecting such capable and engaging guides for each city.
There are also a few logistical details that could be improved for future trips. For example, it would be helpful to have clearer information about road closures or access issues near hotels. This could have been better managed with some advance planning.
Another recurring issue we faced was being asked for payment upon check-in at several hotels, which was quite frustrating. This happened both in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Each time, we had to explain or message someone to clarify that the payment had already been arranged through the tour. I believe this is something that should be clearly managed by the local guides or the operator in advance, so that guests aren’t left to handle these situations themselves. It would be helpful to remind the local teams that this responsibility falls on them, not the travellers.
Additionally, I had informed the team in advance that we would have a significant amount of luggage on our final day, but the car arranged to take us to the airport was only a standard sedan. As a result, the three of us had to sit cramped in the back seats, with one of our large suitcases placed in the front because the boot couldn’t accommodate all our bags. It made for a rather uncomfortable journey and could have been avoided with a more appropriate vehicle.
Overall, we had a great 12-day trip across the three ‘stan’ countries. Thank you for your service, Baykhan. Having travelled to over 30 countries worldwide, I can confidently say that the Central Asian countries are definitely worth visiting. One thing I can confirm for sure is that the plov in Uzbekistan is by far the best among the three ‘stans' :)
★★★★★
We completed the 5 Stans tour through Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan in June and it was truly the trip of a lifetime! Batyr and his team were incredibly helpful from the very beginning, providing us with all the essential information ahead of time and even taking care of the Letter of Invitation required for Turkmenistan.
Each country had its own unique charm and beauty. During the trip, we had different guides in each region: Akyl guided us through Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, Sane accompanied us in Tajikistan, in Uzbekistan we traveled from city to city by taxi and had excellent local guides in each location, and in Turkmenistan, we were guided by the amazing Babahan. We also had the pleasure of meeting Batyr himself in Ashgabat.
All of our guides were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing their countries and cultures with us. The accommodations throughout the tour were good, and the included meals were always tasty and satisfying. The yurt stays in particular were a special and memorable experience!
One of the things we really appreciated was the shared WhatsApp group that included all the relevant guides and tour operators. Anytime we had a question or needed help, someone was always quick to respond and assist.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this journey to anyone considering it. Some of the highlights for me personally included the time spent in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, the Seven Lakes tour in Tajikistan, the historic charm of Khiva in Uzbekistan, and the desert overnight stay in Turkmenistan.
Truly an extraordinary adventure! We had so much fun and made memories to last a lifetime!
★★★★★
We had a fantastic trip, thanks to Batyr. As older travellers (70 and 74) we did not know what to expect from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan but Batyr arranged everything brilliantly and his communication was really quick and helpful. The whole tour was so well organised and the guides and drivers were all knowledgeable and obliging with excellent English. We must especially mention Bayhan, who was our guide in Turkmenistan and who made the visit to his lovely country so interesting. We thoroughly recommend Batyr, and we would love to visit the other ‘Stan’s’ if we get the chance - we would definitely use him again.
★★★★★
I arrived in Turkmenistan with the tour guides backing my arrival so it was all easy. I first flew to Kunya-Urgench which was very interesting and took a long time. We also met other travelers coming from Uzbekistan there. The guides were always making sure we are taken care of.
The tough part was driving down to Darvaza Gas Crater because the road is not good but the travel agency arranged a driver who goes up and down this road regularly and the car was definitely good for such a condition. The drive is made less boring by enjoying camel milk and stories on the way. When we arrived in the evening and can enjoy the gas crater, we also had lovely dinner and a comfortable tent to sleep in. The next day we already continued to Ashgabat which meant changing driver again. There is always a good driver available for such a journey. The group spent a day in Ashgabat to enjoy the bazaar, see the local highlights and the museum for upcoming days. It is vital to see this before heading to Nisa or Merv. The next day we already did see Nisa and while you don't see much locally it's therefore much better to have seen the museum already. The journey continued to Merv for a two-day visit of the many sights there. Before that we also spend an hour swimming at the Kow Ata Underground Lake and ride Akhal-Teke horses at a local place - they are a highlight of the trip!
The guide was also able to change my plans. I originally was supposed to see Yangykala Canyon but then realized I'm already heading east and thus went to Turkmenabad, the sites on the way and finally the dinosaur prints and nearby caves. It also included more swimming. I want to thank the guides again for arranging all this. The canyon is probably great too but I wanted to finish off the eastern side of Turkmenistan first.
Food-wise there were always places to enjoy good local and imported food, even drinks if one enjoys it. The hotel in Merv also had swimming, a spa and very fast internet which was the best in the country. I had two days free time back in Ashgabat were I can enjoy more local food, local hospitality and the friendliness of both the tour and staff. Overall I spent a long time with two of the tour guides, five drivers and one awesome horse :) Arranging the tour was also easy: I talked to Batyr from the company about planning all and the letter of invitation was arranged quickly I didn't even pay for the tour until arrival which really helps to organize all this fast.
O
★★★★★
Batyr is the ideal guide! He is really good company, thoughtful, positive, knowledgeable and patient, cheerfully answering our endless questions, especially as we explored Turkmenistan.
And to top off our great journey with him, he invited his family to join us for dinner on our last night together. A+++++
★★★★★
We have a great and unforgettable experience journey, spending 21days/20nights for 5 Stans Central Asia, although it’s a bit tough and challenge crossing border by walk.
Much appreciated our tour planner Mr. Batyr who is nice friendly and well co-ordinated for connecting each others in different countries. And thanks to all guys who we met during the trips for helping us.
Superb recommended!!!
They are 4 people - family and friends. And they were very positive and were enjoying maximum every moment of the trip. 🤗🤗
★★★★★
I recently had the pleasure of embarking on a tour of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, expertly curated by our outstanding guide Batyr. From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of extraordinary.
At each destination, Batyr provided us with local guides who had a deep knowledge of the location and whose enthusiasm was evident in his/her speech and the amazing information. In Uzbekistan, we explored the ancient cities that line the Silk Road. The storytelling skills of the guides Batyr selected made the Silk Road's living history come alive and made each location even more engaging. The local gastronomic experiences allowed us to sample authentic Uzbek and Turkmen flavors, which added to the cultural experience.
Crossing into Turkmenistan, our adventure continued. Here again, Batyr provided us with knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides who gave us a wonderful introduction to the convoluted history of the country. Batyr chose great hotels for us that allowed us to relax and absorb the experience.
What set our guide Batyr apart was his attention to detail and personal approach. He took the time to understand our interests and tailored the tour to make every moment meaningful. His warm and welcoming demeanor made us feel like we were traveling with a friend, which enhanced our comfort and enjoyment of the trip.
In conclusion, this trip to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan was a remarkable experience made possible by the skillful leadership and thoughtful planning of our guide, Batyr. I highly recommend his services to all who wish to experience the beauty of these two Central Asian states. This trip will remain etched in my memory for many years to come.
M
Milli Pokorna
September 2024
★★★★★
We had a wonderful 5 Days / 4 Nights Turkmenistan Tour with Batyr. From Visa Invitation Processing to the tour, everything went super smooth. We crossed to Turkmenistan from Khiva / Savat border and left Turkmenistan from Alat / Bukhara border for Uzbekistan overland. Batyr helped us through out and made this tour both possible and thoroughly enjoyable even though we were travelling with our 2 year old son. Highly recommend him to anyone travelling to or planning a future trip to Turkmenisan.
They were very easy and experienced to travel with 2 years old baby: Shamoo.
We had a great time together.
★★★★★
We had a wonderful 5 Days / 4 Nights Turkmenistan Tour with Batyr. From Visa Invitation Processing to the tour, everything went super smooth. We crossed to Turkmenistan from Khiva / Savat border and left Turkmenistan from Alat / Bukhara border for Uzbekistan overland. Batyr helped us through out and made this tour both possible and thoroughly enjoyable even though we were travelling with our 2 year old son. Highly recommend him to anyone travelling to or planning a future trip to Turkmenistan.
They were very easy and experienced to travel with 2 years old baby: Shamoo.
We had a great time together.
★★★★★
Batyr was a very good tour guide and also travel coordinator. We had booked a first part in Uzbekistan with him and then traveled with him as a tour guide through Turkmenistan. In the booking process, Batyr was always very responsive and we were able to design the tour very precisely according to our wishes (including camping in Yangikala, flights to where we wanted, etc.) and last-minute adjustments were also possible. I would always recommend being explicit about what you want to do and see. The LOI process went very smoothly. We opted for a mix of camping, yurt and hotels. Everything was up to standard and Batyr always made sure that dietary needs were also met (my boyfriend is vegan). He was a knowledgeable tour guide and the drivers we had were also very professional. During the tour we also had some options whether we wanted to drive for a long day after sightseeing or stay in one place and then move on the next day - so it was pretty flexible. Turkmenistan is of course definitely worth a visit in itself. The tour planning and execution with Batyr was very good and I would travel to Turkmenistan with him again at any time, unreserved recommendation.
J
★★★★★
Excellent experience togher with Batyr and his team. Spoke both English and Russian. Everything went as planned and we even added two more specatular places on our route. Strongly recommend.
He was very interesting and flexible to travel together and have very good sense of humour.
★★★★
Good guides at all locations who were fluent in English.
★★★★★
Everything went super well!!! We were a group of 3 friends we loved Turkmenistan and we are really happy that we chose Batyr for our trip. It was easy to figure out together the itinerary, I had a list of things we wanted to see and Batyr helped to define the right way of covering them all. We were picked up at our hotel in Khiva and dropped ar our hotel in Bukhara at the end of the 8 days. A guide was waiting for us at the border and he sorted out all formalities for us, same did his brother on the way out He waited until the border bus to the Uzbek passport control left, while all other guides had left their clients at the previous step, and this safe us a lot of time (a bus was broken so lot of people waiting since long, but he arranged for us to get to the 2nd bus leaving).
We had excellent drivers (also super kind), they really had the hardest part or the work.
Batyr and the guides really made extra efforts so that we can enjoy every single moment. We enjoy sharing with all people we met during the trip. Turkmenistan is amazing, but what it makes it really special are the people.
Thanks Batyr, still have few things to see and more important I need to learn how to make patir:-) so I might be back.
★★★★★
When the idea of travel to Uzbekistan first popped into my head, I was very overwhelmed with the planning and details of such an adventure. After doing some personal research, I found Batyr and reached out to him for guidance as reading his travel descriptions gave me the impression that he was very passionate about showing these beautiful locations to tourists. My intuitions were indeed correct and Batyr immediately replied to my correspondence and was extremely quick to answer my questions and gave me the best advice in how to prepare. Ultimately, my trip was an unbelievable experience and Batyr was always communicative during my travels and made the trip very stress free for me arranging hotels, excursions, transportations, and the best guides that were more as friends to me than hired guides. Every moment of this excursion I felt immensely taken care of and was completely at ease to enjoy what was around me. I am very much looking forward to the next adventure!
Michael is very communicative and flexible person. He selected a tour from my listing and was flexible for some changes on Itinerary. He did open a wise account which was easiest way to make advance payment for the tour. He really one of the best travelers I had ?.
Thanks ?
★★
I must thank Indy Guide for helping me out on a 15 days trip to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. We returned just three days ago and my wife and I enjoyed immensely. BUT the worst part was that our trip organizer turned out to be very disappointing. Clever and quite smart, he was very sweet in his communication creating an impression with personal images, talking about his personal family and using memes and emojis, he simply became very friendly over the two months that we communicated with each other. He cleverly concealed the fact that he was neither from Kazakhstan, nor from Uzbekistan and his itinerary was DEFINITELY from tourist brochures and information collected from the internet. In fact, when we reached, we understood that he was not even familiar with winter tourist spots and his itinerary was simply a stereo-typed itinerary. Right at the initial stage of our communication, I had informed him of our needs for four star hotels and good comfortable cars. He was NEVER short of assurances but the truth unfolded when we reached. We had to change hotels, for one destination (Shymkent) we even had to face the embarrassment of being asked at the reception to pay for our booking !! I suggest that future travellers should always find out about the country of residence of the tour planner, before venturing out. By God's grace we ha excellent guides who made the trip sooo enjoyable for us, they re-arranged our itinerary, schedules and each one of them went the extra mile to make our trip really cherishable. A big THANK YOU to the people of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, who are so warm, hospitable and friendly !! In conclusion I may add that I was requested by our tour planner over voice message, not to write a review about my experience with him.
★★★★★
I can only express satisfaction for the services provided by Batyr. First of all he was the only one to consider my condition of solo traveller providing me with an appropriate quotation; he has been very reliable, the tour programme we had agreed on has been fulfilled and I had the opportunity to share this trip with professional and friendly driver/guide
He was communicable, flexible and thankful.
★★★★★
Everything went smooth since the very beginning.
Batyr was extremely reactive, he answered all my doubts and was able to organize the trip in Just a few days. Also during and After the trip he was very caring about us. Definitaey Will try again of any trip in the area.
alessandro
September 2022
His request was last minute, even though we communicated in time to make the tour smooth enough.
★★★★★
Batyr was extremely efficient in answering all my questions right away, and extremely attentive in trying to satisfy all my requests which in my case were many as we were traveling with a large group and many children. Compared with other agents he is also cheap even if the service offered was 5 stars, especially with regard to the cars, brand new and powerful and luxurious lexus that for the tents and sleeping bags. I also do not forget the knowledge of the guides essential for a trip to such a remote region. Batyr has been in contact with me from the beginning to after the end of the trip. I can only recommend it if you decide to visit these beautiful remote places ...., 5 stars is not enough !!!
He had good and in time communication. He organised advance payment in one day evenif he was on the vacation far away from home city.
He was really successful group leader to have smooth tour.
★★★★★
A perfect guide and a perfect organization.
They patiently wait for my border crossing, and immediately gave me all answers and assistance in the tour.
They have been able to change plans according to the short time I had.
A 100% customized tour so we’ll tailor made for me.
And a great human approach which is so important. Keep going!
F
★★★★★
I and my friend are very satisfied with this tour.They organized our tour based on our request and our program was so organized that we could enjoy Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in spite of our limited term holiday.
Our comment for every guide in each city is as follows.
◆Tashkent
We could talk with her frankly in Japanese, so enjoyed hanging around Tashkent with her. Our driver is also friendly and drive so safely.
◆Khiva
Her explanation was very interesting and well organized, so we were able to feel the ancient atmosphere when we walked around the town with her. Her English is so clear to understand her explanation.
◆Turkmenistan
He gave hospitality to us and tried to entertain us, so we had an exciting experience not only in Darvasa but also the whole time in Turkmenistan.
◆Bukhara
She responded to our request properly and took care of us very well. (ex, lunch, reservation of ethnic dance show and Hamam) We enjoyed staying there with relaxing.
◆Samarkand
She explained us history and architecture of each site clearly and also took us a nice restaurant of lagman.
F
★★★★★
A very high quality guide with fluent English and a lot of knowledge on the history in Central Asia. Driver was also really good person.
Food was excellent. Comfortable sleep in every night.
Accurate time table during whole tours. But the duration in Yangi-kala seemed too short.
Any way, they provided me a quite high quality tour. One of the best guided tour I have had ever!!
Y
★★★★★
I cannot recommend highly enough Jahana Tours with Batyr and Yussup for trips to Turkmenistan. They are magnificent. Yussup is a guide who looks out for your interests as if you are part of his family. He works hard to ensure no harm befalls you AND that you see everything you want to see with few glitches. Batyr is the "producer." He makes certain all arrangements are in order. I worried I would not gain entry to Turkmenistan. Batyr handled obtaining letter of invitation well in advance. I had no trouble with Turkmenistan officials entering or exiting this country. This was because Batyr stayed on top of my travel needs. The tour itself was awesome, featuring the Crater of Hell fire and separately a visit to a crater of water. Batyr ensured I could see all that I wanted to see and remained flexible for contingencies. If I am ever trapped at a border unable to proceed, i would want Batyr with me as he would find a way to get me out of my predicament. His team back in Turkmenabat are highly professional and capable and support operations with 100% effort. If you are considering a trip to Turkmenistan, choose Jahana Tours and let Batyr manage your tour. He is most trustworthy and will not let you down or leave you stranded.
P
★★★★★
Jahana set me up with a knowledgeable, friendly, and fluent English-speaking guide for a thoroughly excellent tour of all the museums, Mausoleums, madrassas, and mosques inside old Khiva fortress. Naza was expert in her guiding, making certain I knew significance of sites she was showing me. She made my Khiva visit an enlightening and enjoyable one. Johanna Tours made sure I had everything I needed to be happy with my trip.
P
★★★★★
Yusup and his driver were excellent hosts.
They helped us in everything they could and showed us wonderful places
L
★★★★★
I had a tour to Konye-Urgench and the gas crater and it was enjoyable and good value for money. The team was eager to provide excellent service and to ensure that its customers have a great, tailor-made experience.
Throughout the month before the tour my guide Batyr communicated with me frequently to arrange for the LOI and to make sure that my requests were understood accurately. He was patient and responsive when answering my various questions. His suggestions were helpful and he was flexible in accommodating my changing plans. In general things went smoothly both before and during the tour.
A
★★★★★
The tour didn’t take place, because Turkmenistan consular department hasn’t issued visa as usual.
However, it’s not guide’s fault, this is common staff. Later I wasn’t able to get transit visa as well.
B
★
We were two persons on the trip to uzbekistan, wishing to do the detour to the crater. Sent visa details on 3.06, have not received LOI, on expected arrival date (21.06) rejected for both persons
A
★★★★★
Overall I had a great experience with Hemrayeva and Lebapsiyahat and was very happy with my two-week tour. From the very beginning they were accommodating and flexible in helping me build a perfect tour....and they offer a good price for a solo traveller that made it affordable compared to many other companies whose quotes were out of reach.
There were a couple of hiccups towards the end - a misunderstanding on their part that meant two of the sights/activities I`d requested were not delivered and my request for a night in a yurt was not fulfilled. However they quickly refunded what I`d paid for the additional activities without issue, which to me is a very professional way of handling what could have been an awkward situation...and is why they`ll be the company I recommend to others.
For English speakers - Hemrayeva doesn`t really speak much English, so translation is done by one of the guides (who accompanied me). This does sometimes mean there can be a delay in communication in the planning phase if he is on tour in an area without internet reception (there are plenty of those). So don`t panic. However, do get a full itinerary and go through it carefully to be sure everything you want is included and if you`re not sure, ask, so things don`t get missed as they did with me. [Note: Unless you have a VPN you can`t access IndyGuide within Turkmenistan, so copy and save any information from here that you need, so you have it to hand once you arrive.]
Hemrayeva, Batyr and Yusup (the three I dealt with) were all very willing to do whatever they could to ensure I had a good trip. They were adaptable (when I got food poisoning and couldn`t travel so had to reschedule some arrangements), and were still trying to find solutions when at the end they discovered the error that meant a key activity could not be fulfilled. I admire that. Most importantly they`ve been open to feedback and seem very keen to improve and provide a great experience in Turkmenistan. They`re a local Turkmenistan company and I`d feel comfortable recommending them to friends.
V
View all 31 reviews →
